Workspace panel system privacy door

ABSTRACT

A privacy door assembly providing a sliding privacy door and supporting panel for selectively closing an entryway in an existing workspace panel system. The support panel includes a front face, top edge, side edge, and bezel opposite the side edge. The support panel attached facewise to a system panel of the workspace panel system form an enclosure for slideably supporting and concealingly receiving the privacy door. The support panel further includes adjustable floor glides for leveling and supporting the weight of the support panel and the attached privacy door. The privacy door may include a recessed pull handle for pulling the door from its concealed position and extending it across the opening to be closed or a spring loaded plunger for propelling the door slightly from the concealed position. A receiving post may be located adjacent to an additional component of the workspace panel system across the opening from the support panel. The receiving post receives a leading edge of the privacy door and can positively retain the receiving door with the use of magnets or a latching system. The privacy door is composed of fiberboard, polycarbonate, marker board, or other lightweight rigid material. The support panel may include a releasably attached aesthetic tile that provides an aesthetic match with the existing panel system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/386,776, entitled PANEL SYSTEM PRIVACY DOOR, filed on Jun. 6, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to privacy door assemblies for workspace panel systems. Workspace panel systems are generally used in office applications for providing privacy, and typically also support modular office furniture components. Privacy door assemblies can be used in an existing workspace panel system for providing a slideable door to close the entryway for an individual work area within a panel system.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Generally, installation of known privacy door assemblies requires replacement of an existing component of the workspace panel system or mounting a door externally on an existing component, such that the door and supporting hardware are exposed when the door is either open or closed.

[0006] For one such known device, a door support panel replaces an existing system panel or other component of the panel system. Therefore, the existing panel system must be reconfigured and work surfaces, overhead cabinets, or other components supported by the removed panel must also be removed and reconfigured. The door support panel includes two opposite facing side panels defining a cavity therebetween. The cavity is sized to receive a sliding privacy door which, when slid into the cavity, is concealed by the two opposite facing side panels. Additionally, the privacy door requires not only the support of roller bearing slides along both the top and bottom of the door support panel, but also a roller or glide foot extending from the base of the leading edge of the door panel to the floor.

[0007] Another known device also requires replacement of an existing system panel with a door support panel. The privacy door includes a guide channel along the top of the door to guide it in sliding in and out of the support panel and a series of rollers supporting the bottom of the door. Additionally, as above, the privacy door requires the further support of a roller or a glide foot extending from the base of the leading edge of the door panel to the floor.

[0008] Another such known privacy door assembly mounts directly to the external face of an existing panel in a workspace panel system. Two supporting slide mechanisms, one along the top edge of the privacy door and one along the bottom edge of the privacy door, are mounted to the existing panel and in view when the door is positioned across the entryway to be closed. Additionally, because the privacy door is supported on the outside of an existing panel, the privacy door is not concealed from view when positioned such that the entryway is open.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a privacy door assembly that may be located adjacent to an entryway in an existing workspace panel system. The privacy door assembly includes a privacy door and a support panel slideably supporting and concealingly receiving the privacy door. The support panel is directly supported by the floor and may be attached facewise to an existing system or companion panel, or other component of an existing workspace panel system. The support panel may be attached to the system panel in the same manner in which other modular systems components are attached. The support panel includes at least a front face, a top edge, a side edge, and a bezel opposite the side edge. The front face, side edge and bezel are arranged such that they define a void which, until attached to a system panel, is open to the side opposite the front face. When the open side of the support panel is juxtaposed facewise with a system panel, the support panel and system panel together define an enclosure for slideably supporting and concealingly receiving the privacy door within the void or door recess.

[0010] The front face of the support panel includes an aesthetic tile or other covering that aesthetically matches or complements the existing workspace panel system. The support panel also supports a cylindrical shaft horizontally located within the door recess and includes a vertically disposed carrier plate having a horizontally disposed bushing housing that is slideably supported by the cylindrical shaft. The privacy door is attached to and supported by the vertically disposed carrier plate. The bezel of the support panel defines a vertical opening for sliding extension of the privacy door therethrough. The privacy door may therefore be extended from a stowed position in the support panel to a partially extended position, spanning and closing the entryway in the existing workspace panel system. To facilitate extending the privacy door from the support panel, a spring plunger device located between the door and support panel is capable of propelling the privacy door partially from the support panel.

[0011] In one form, the present invention provides a workspace panel system includes a plurality of panels including at least a first panel and a second panel positioned to define an entryway therebetween; a support panel attached facewise to the first panel, the support panel including at least one enclosed face positioned away from the first panel and defining an interior void, the support panel further including an edge adjacent and facing said entryway and between the first panel and the enclosed face, the edge defining a vertical opening in communication with the interior void; and a privacy door slidably supported by the support panel, the privacy door having a retracted position in which the privacy door is received into the interior void, and an extended position in which the privacy door is partially extended between the vertical opening and extended across the entryway, the privacy door slideable between the retracted and the extended positions.

[0012] In another form, the present invention provides a workspace panel system including a plurality of panels including at least a first panel and a second panel positioned to define an entryway therebetween; a support panel attached facewise to the first panel, the support panel having a rectangular frame, the frame having a member in contact with the floor to support the support frame; and a privacy door slidably supported by the frame and having a retracted position in which the privacy door is positioned with the frame and an extended position in which the privacy door is at least partially extended from the frame and fully extended across the entryway, the privacy door slideable between the retracted and the extended positions.

[0013] In yet another form thereof, the present invention provides a workspace panel system includes a first panel and a second panel defining an entryway therebetween; a first privacy door for assembly supported by the floor and attached facewise to the first panel, the door assembly having a support panel and a door supported by and slidably extendable from an end of the support panel, the door extendable to at least half the distance defined by the entryway; and a second privacy door assembly supported by the floor and attached facewise to the second panel, the door assembly having a support panel and door supported by and slidably extendable from an end of the support panel, the door extendable to meet the door of the first privacy door assembly.

[0014] Advantageously, the privacy door assembly can be added to an existing workspace panel system without reconfiguring components of the panel system, and is configurable to aesthetically match or complement the aesthetics of the existing workspace panel system.

[0015] A further advantage of the privacy door assembly is that the weight of the assembly is directly supported by the floor, and the privacy door is fully supported by the support panel.

[0016] An additional advantage is that the privacy door is concealed from view when not in use and the privacy door sliding support components are concealed from view in the stowed and in the extended positions.

[0017] Yet another advantage of the privacy door assembly is that pressing the privacy door slightly further into the door recess of the support panel activates a mechanism that propels the privacy door partially from the door recess for easy opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a privacy door assembly connected to an existing system panel and located adjacent an entryway in an existing workspace panel system;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an end view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 is an end view of a second embodiment of the privacy door assembly of FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the support panel taken along line 4-4 of the privacy door assembly of FIG. 1;

[0023]FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are partial sectional views taken along line 5-5 of the privacy door assembly of FIG. 1, showing various embodiments at the top portion of the assembly for connecting the support panel to the system panel;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a rear view of an upper portion of the support panel of FIG. 4;

[0025]FIG. 7A is a rear view of a lower portion of the support panel of FIG. 4;

[0026]FIG. 7B is a sectional view of a portion of FIG. 7A;

[0027]FIG. 8A is a rear view of a lower portion of the support panel of FIG. 4;

[0028]FIG. 8B is a sectional view of a portion of FIG. 8A;

[0029]FIG. 9 is a front view of a privacy door assembly having two privacy doors connected to existing panels located on opposite ends of an entryway in an existing workspace panel system; and

[0030]FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a lower portion of the support and system panel of FIG. 2.

[0031] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, privacy door assembly 20 is shown located adjacent to opening or entryway 16 of existing workspace panel system 10. Entryway 16 is defined between components of existing workspace panel system 10, such as, for example, companion or system panel 12 and second panel 14. Privacy door assembly 20 generally includes support panel 30, privacy door 50, and may include strike or receiver post 22. Support panel 30 is supported on floor 18 by height adjustable leveling glides 24, and is located facewise adjacent and attached to system panel 12 or another furniture component of existing workspace panel system 10. Support panel 30 may be attached to system panel 12 in the same fashion as other system components are attached. Privacy door 50 is slideably supported by support panel 30, thus privacy door 50 may be extended across entryway 16, providing privacy to a work area defined by workspace panel system 10. While privacy door assembly 20 is attached by a connection assembly to system panel 12, the weight of assembly 20 is borne on floor 18 by glides 24. Receiver post 22 is located adjacent and attached to second panel 14 or another furniture component of existing workspace panel system 10.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 1, support panel 30 includes front face 36 and supporting frame 32. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, frame 32 includes individual metal channels defining top edge 40, side edge 38, bezel 44, and bottom edge 42. Frame 32 may also include gussets 33 at the junction of individual channels to add strength and stability to frame 32.

[0034] Support panel 30 can be located adjacent either side of system panel 12, and thus can be located inside or outside of the work area defined by workspace panel system 10. Front face 36 of support panel 30 may advantageously include a releasably attachable aesthetic tile or other aesthetic finishing surface. Aesthetic tile 36 may be selected from a group of styles so that an aesthetic match with the existing workspace panel system 10 is provided.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, bezel 44 and system panel 12 define vertical opening 34 along one edge of bezel 44 for passage therethrough of door 50. In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, vertical opening 34 is defined centrally in bezel 44.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, frame 32 and front face 36 define a void or door recess for concealingly receiving privacy door 50. Frame 32 supports cylindrical shaft 46, shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, for slideably supporting door 50. The term slideable as used herein means generally rectilinear motion. For example, support panel 30 may be coupled to privacy door 50 with a linear motion device, such as a cylindrical shaft and bushing, or other such support and motion device providing face to face rectilinear motion. In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, cylindrical shaft 46 is supported at opposite ends by shaft blocks 45, which are attached to frame 32. Shaft blocks 45 may be made of aluminum and include bore 47 for receiving cylindrical shaft 46. Bushing housing 64 is slidably supported by cylindrical shaft 46 and supports carrier plate 62, which supports privacy door 50.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, bushing housing 64 is a rectangular block having lengthwise bore 67 and linear bushings 65 pressed into opposite ends for receiving shaft 46. In the exemplary embodiment, linear bushings 65 are of the type having an outer cylindrical casing and an inner retainer holding a series of stainless steel ball elements in place, and suitable of supporting precise and smooth movement upon shaft 46, which may be, for example, a polished and tempered steel shaft. Bushing housing 64 may be made of aluminum and bolted to carrier plate 62.

[0038] Referring again to FIG. 4, privacy door 50 is supported on bushing housing 64 and shaft 46 by at least one carrier plate 62. In the exemplary embodiment, carrier plate 62 vertically spans from above the top edge of door 50 to near the bottom edge of door 50 and is securely fastened to door frame 52 with rivets. Additionally, carrier plate 62 horizontally spans at least a portion of the trailing portion of door 50 adjacent trailing edge 55. A second carrier plate (not shown) may also be located on the side of privacy door 50 opposite from carrier plate 62. Attached to the top of carrier plate 62 is bushing housing 64, also shown in FIG. 6. Thus, carrier plate 62, supported by bushing housing 64 and shaft 46, supports privacy door 50 in a cantilevered arrangement along trailing edge 55 of door 50. This arrangement advantageously provides sliding support of privacy door 50, which may be sized in length so that cylindrical shaft 46, carrier plate 62, and bushing housing 64 are concealed by support panel 30, even when door 50 is extended across entryway 16.

[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, privacy door 50 generally includes door frame 52 and door panel 54. In the exemplary embodiment, frame 50 is constructed from metal and door panel 54 is constructed at least in part of a substrate such as fiberboard, translucent or opaque polycarbonate, or another similarly rigid, lightweight material. Alternatively, door panel 54 may also include a covering or coating such as fabric, paint, wood veneer, ribbed polycarbonate, marker board, or other aesthetically or functionally desirable material or feature. Door frame 52 may also include recess 60, defined in leading edge 53, for housing spring recessed handle 58 or suitable latch or locking hardware 56 and associated handles 57 located on both sides of door frame 52.

[0040] The exemplary embodiment may also include compressible spring loaded plunger 66, shown in FIG. 4, for assisting in the extraction of door 50 from support panel 30. Spring loaded plunger 66 is attached to door 50 at trailing edge 55, and actuated by the inside surface of side face 38. However, plunger 66 could be attached to side face 38 or elsewhere on frame 32 and actuated by door 50. As door 50 slides into support panel 30, plunger 66 extends through clearance hole 39 defined through frame 32 and contacts side face 38. As door 50 continues to close so that leading edge 53 is flush with bezel 44, a spring loaded mechanism of plunger 66 is compressed and locked. To unlock spring loaded plunger 66 and force door 50 to extend a few inches out of support panel 30, door 50 is pushed slightly into support panel 30, causing spring loaded plunger 66 to compress a second time, thereby unlocking and extending plunger 66 against side face 38, pushing door 50 open a few inches, so that leading edge 53 extends from support panel 30 and door 50 may be pulled across entryway 16. An exemplary spring load plunger 66 is part #245-52-403 manufactured by Hafele America, Archdale, N.C.

[0041] Support panel 30 may also include bumper 48, shown in FIG. 4, comprising rubber or another suitable resilient material, for cushioning and limiting the range of travel for privacy door 50 relative to support panel 30 in both its fully retracted and extended positions. Bumper 48 may be located in positions other than shown in FIG. 4, such as, for example, near the top and bottom of both side 38 and bezel 44.

[0042] Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, door stop 68, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, limits the range of travel of privacy door 50 relative to support panel 30. Door stop 68 is attached to the bottom edge of door frame 52 adjacent support panel bottom channel 42, and extends into channel 42 to guide door 50 and reduce side-to-side movement relative to support panel 30. Travel of privacy door 50 is stopped when doorstop 68 contacts guide element 70, shown in FIGS. 4, 8A, and 8B.

[0043] Support panel 30 may also include guide element 70, shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B and located, for example, along a lower edge of privacy door 50 for guiding door 50 as it is extended or retracted relative to support panel 30. In the exemplary embodiment, guide element 70 includes sides 74 forming channel 76 for guidingly receiving the bottom edge of door frame 52, thus limiting the side-to-side motion of privacy door 50 as it is extended from support panel 30. Also, guide element 70 may include roller 72, upon which the lower edge of privacy door 50 may rest, that bolsters the support of privacy door 50 provided by shaft 46 and bushing housing 64.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, connection assembly 25 includes one or more brackets 26 a/b/c attached to door support panel 30 and having an engaging portion 27 a/b/c. The brackets engage receptacle or retaining portion 28 a/b/c of system panel 12 and prevent the top portion of support panel 30 from separating from system panel 12. Advantageously, connection assembly 25 can fasten door support panel 30 to system panel 12 using the same connection method and location as used to fasten other panel system components, for example, overhead cabinets, to system panel 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, bracket 26 a is fastened to top edge 40 of frame 32 of support panel 30. Bracket 26 a defines an engagement portion, in this example engaging portion 27 a, for securing bracket 26 a to retaining portion 28 a of system panel 12, thereby retaining support panel 30 adjacent to existing panel 12. The interlocking of retaining portion 28 a and engaging portion 27 a eliminates the need for fasteners, such as screws, to secure the upper portion of support panel 30 to system panel 12.

[0045] Although any suitable connection assembly could be used, other example embodiments of connection assembly 25, shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, include bracket 26 b that has engaging portion 27 b received within the slots of slotted standard 28 b of system panel 12, and bracket 26 c having engaging portion 27 c that engages within a channel defined within rail or track member 28 c of system panel 12. Additionally, connection assembly 25 may include lower attachment plate 29, shown in FIG. 10. Lower attachment plate 29 couples bottom channel 42 of support panel 30 and bottom channel 13 of system panel 12 and may be secured to channel 42 and channel 13 with fasteners, such as screws or bolts.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, privacy door 50 is supported by support panel 30 as described above and is located adjacent entryway 16 in existing workspace panel system 10. When not in use, privacy door 50 is concealed by support panel 30, with only leading edge 53 of frame 52 exposed. Recessed handle 58 may be used to slidingly extract privacy door 50 from the enclosure formed by support panel 30, or door 50 may be further pressed into support panel 30, causing spring loaded plunger 66 to extend door 50 beyond bezel 44 so that it may be slid across entryway 16.

[0047] Privacy door assembly 20 may also include receiver post 22, which is attachable to the side of second panel 14 of workspace panel system 10. Receiver post 22 may be located on the side of entryway 16 opposite support panel 30 and in line with privacy door 50. Thus, as privacy door 50 is slid to a fully extended position, leading edge 53 of privacy door 50 contacts receiver post 22. Additionally, receiver post 22 may include recess 23 defined vertically along the side of receiver post 22 that is dimensioned for receipt of privacy door 50. Recess 23 may also include other openings or hardware such as a latch receptacle for latch or locking hardware 56 which is attached to privacy door 50. Latch or locking hardware 56 may be a locking latch, keyed lock, magnet, or other similar door hardware for positive connection of leading edge 53 with receiver post 22.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9, entryway 16 in workspace panel system 110 is closed using a pair of privacy door assemblies 120 and 121. In this embodiment, a first privacy door assembly 120 is located adjacent system panel 12 on one side of entryway 16, and a second privacy door assembly 121 is located adjacent second panel 14 on the other side of entryway 16. Privacy doors 50 from each privacy door assembly 120, 121 then advantageously extend toward each other and meet or latch together near a midpoint of entryway 16 or, alternatively, each privacy door 50 contacts a side of receiving post 22, which is located centrally between door assemblies 120 and 121.

[0049] While this invention has been described as having exemplary embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations or the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A workspace panel system, comprising: a plurality of panels including at least a first panel and a second panel positioned to define an entryway therebetween; a support panel attached facewise to said first panel, said support panel including at least one enclosed face positioned away from said first panel and defining an interior void, said support panel further including an edge adjacent and facing said entryway and between said first panel and said enclosed face, said edge defining a vertical opening in communication with said interior void; and a privacy door slideably supported by said support panel, said privacy door having a retracted position in which said privacy door is received into said interior void, and an extended position in which said privacy door is partially extended through said vertical opening and extended across said entryway, said privacy door slideable between said retracted and said extended positions.
 2. The workspace panel system of claim 1, further comprising a slideable support mechanism coupled between said support panel and said privacy door along a top portion of said privacy door, said privacy door solely supported by said support panel.
 3. The workspace panel system of claim 2, wherein said slideable support system includes a bushing slideably supported on a shaft.
 4. The workspace panel system of claim 3, wherein said support panel includes a frame; said shaft is coupled to said support panel frame; and said bushing is coupled to said privacy door.
 5. The workspace panel system of claim 4, wherein said bushing includes a block having a bore defined therethrough and a linear bearing coupled to each end of said bore, said linear bearings sized to receive said shaft.
 6. The workspace panel system of claim 4, further comprising a carrier plate, said carrier plate coupled between said bushing and said privacy door.
 7. The workspace panel system of claim 2, further comprising a guide element on the inside bottom portion of said support panel, said guide element defining a channel in which a bottom edge of said privacy door is slideably received.
 8. The workspace panel system of claim 2, wherein said guide element further comprises a roller positioned within said channel and upon which a bottom edge of said privacy door may rest.
 9. The workspace panel system of claim 1, wherein said support panel is adapted to receive said privacy door such that in said retracted position a leading edge of said privacy door is substantially flush with said first panel edge and the remainder of said privacy door is concealed by said enclosed face.
 10. The workspace panel system of claim 9, further comprising a slideable support mechanism coupled between said support panel and said privacy door; wherein said slideable support mechanism is concealed by said enclosed face when said privacy door is in said extended position.
 11. The workspace panel system of claim 9, further comprising a means for providing an ejecting force between said privacy door and said support panel upon a user pressing said leading edge toward said interior void when said privacy door is in said retracted position, wherein said ejecting force slides said privacy door toward said extended position.
 12. The workspace panel system of claim 1, wherein said enclosed face includes at least one releasably attachable aesthetic tile providing an aesthetic match with said plurality of panels.
 13. The workspace panel system of claim 1, further comprising at least one floor glide, said at least one floor glide coupled to said support panel and supporting the weight of said support panel and said privacy door on the floor.
 14. The workspace panel system of claim 13, further comprising a bracket coupled along a top portion of said support panel, said bracket having an engaging portion; and a receptacle portion defined along a top portion of said first panel; wherein said engaging portion is lockingly received by said receptacle portion, thereby retaining said support panel facewise to said first panel.
 15. The workspace panel system of claim 1, wherein said privacy door includes a flat panel comprising a lightweight substrate.
 16. The workspace panel system of claim 1, further comprising a vertically disposed receiver post adapted to be attached to said second panel and positioned on the axis of extension of said door, said receiver post having a surface for contacting a leading edge of said door when said door is extended from said support panel.
 17. The workspace panel system of claim 1, wherein said privacy door is supported by said support panel in a cantilevered fashion.
 18. A workspace panel system, comprising: a plurality of panels including at least a first panel and a second panel positioned to define an entryway therebetween; a support panel attached facewise to said first panel, said support panel having a rectangular frame, said frame having a member in contact with the floor to support said support panel; and a privacy door slideably supported by said frame and having a retracted position in which said privacy door is positioned with said frame and an extended position in which said privacy door is at least partially extended from said frame and extended across said entryway, said privacy door slideable between said retracted and said extended positions.
 19. The workspace panel system of claim 18, further comprising a slideable support mechanism coupled between said support panel and said privacy door along a top portion of said privacy door, said privacy door solely supported by said support panel.
 20. The workspace panel system of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of faces coupled to said frame of said support panel, said faces enclose said support mechanism when said privacy door is in said extended and said retracted positions.
 21. The workspace panel system of claim 20, wherein said faces enclose all but a lead edge of said privacy door when said privacy door is in said retracted position.
 22. A workspace panel system, comprising: a first panel and a second panel defining an entryway therebetween; a first privacy door assembly supported by the floor and attached facewise to said first panel, said door assembly having a support panel and a door supported by and slideably extendable from an end of said support panel, said door extendable to at least half the distance defined by said entryway; and a second privacy door assembly supported by the floor and attached facewise to said second panel, said door assembly having a support panel and door supported by and slideably extendable from an end of said support panel, said door extendable to meet said door of said first privacy door assembly. 